Puzzle assembly

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional puzzle consisting of individual three-dimensional puzzle pieces, each with three-dimensional multi-planar curved surfaces which when placed together form a completed three-dimensional geometric puzzle. The three-dimensional puzzle pieces share all points in a space with a three-dimensional scene of solid objects in the same space. The surfaces of the individual three-dimensional puzzle pieces are multi-planar curved surfaces sharing the intersection on each surface with the intersection of the scene at the same points between the scene and the substrate and the space dissection rendered into artwork on the puzzle piece surface. Each individual puzzle piece has a fixed position in the three-dimensional space of the scene and as the puzzle pieces are assembled the scene is continually completed in all three dimensions. Length, width and depth is revealed by artwork on each puzzle piece surface for the solid objects in the scene at the puzzle surface dissection.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to recreational puzzles for amusement. This invention specifically relates to a three-dimensional puzzle with three dimensional curved surfaces on the individual puzzle pieces which shares a three-dimensional space of a scene of solid objects at every point. Solving the puzzle requires placing the individual puzzle pieces in the proper position and relating to all adjoining puzzle pieces in three-dimensions.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a three dimensional puzzle that combines both a three dimensional structure of the puzzle substrate made up of smaller three dimensional structures with a three dimensional scene of solid objects in a shared space between the two. Three dimensions are revealed for the solid objects in the scene on the individual puzzle surface.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Puzzles have been made in a variety of forms to entertain the user with how to solve the puzzle. Picture puzzles are generally composed of individual planar pieces which when placed together form a completed planar picture. Where to place the pieces is generally at question. Clues are provided in the artwork and edge shape of the puzzle piece as to where to place the piece in it's correct position to solve the puzzle. Clues as to position have generally been provided by picture clues of planar artwork traditionally. Multi layer puzzles have been introduced where the artwork is displayed for several layers in the puzzle.

-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,054 discloses planar artwork on several planar     layers depicting independent artwork for different layers of the     scene. -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,647 takes it further to fix the position of     planar layers into a three-dimensional relationship to one another     with space in between. -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,742 makes the planar layers see through so they     can have a three d illusion when built upon each other. However no     relationship is determined for the depth of the objects in the scene     on the individual planar layers or when they are placed upon one     another. -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,709,660 has a three dimensional structure with     planar artwork on it's surfaces. The artwork is planar and there is     no relationship established between the three dimensional structure     of the puzzle substrate and three dimensions of the objects viewed     in the scene. The finished puzzle shows planar artwork that is     independent of the other planar artwork rendered on different     surfaces of the completed geometric form. -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,201 Has a three dimensional structure of the     puzzle substrate which reveals two dimensional surfaces on the     individual puzzle pieces for the planar indicia thereon and folds     over planar indicia to duplicate indicia of adjoining puzzle     surfaces of the puzzle pieces. Only two dimensions are disclosed for     the artwork. No relationship is established that the substrate and     the indicia's subject matter share a three dimensional contiguous     space between the two at all points in the space.

While planar artwork is placed on the form and folded into two directions no claim is made to disclose a third dimension in the artwork at the puzzle pieces individual surface. Two dimensional artwork is duplicated in several dimensions adding to the difficulty of the puzzle solving by taking into account additional directions for the planar artwork to duplicate itself.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is a three-dimensional puzzle made up of smaller individual three-dimensional puzzle pieces each with three-dimensional multi-planar curved surfaces. The puzzle substrate shares the space with a three-dimensional scene of solid objects. The object of the invention is to build the puzzle scene in three-dimensions from clues on the puzzle piece surfaces. Clues are simultaneously both visually and physically structural in three dimensions on one or more sides of the puzzle pieces. The dissection of the shared space due to the puzzle piece surface structure being three-dimensional will dictate what part of the scene is revealed and what is left for another adjoining piece. As the puzzle is assembled more of the scene emerges with the addition of each puzzle piece into three dimensions. Adding adjoining puzzle pieces requires choosing the right puzzle pieces extending into three dimensions from the adjoining puzzle pieces portion of the scene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces with curved multi-planar surfaces. The sun figure in the scene shares different planes with puzzle pieces H, L, O, N, Q

The surface of puzzle piece H lies in the middle of the suns coordinates at a depth behind the position of the lips shown on piece L and N.

The surface of puzzle member L is in the same plane at the lip position as puzzle member N and at the same position at the petal location as puzzle member H. The nose on puzzle member L lies deeper in the depth of the nose than puzzle member N and therefore the nostril is not revealed at this depth.

Puzzle member 0 is deeper in the scene at the petal position than puzzle member H where it attaches to the sun.

The snowman's fingers are missing from puzzle member P as it lies behind the plane that the fingers intersect with.

Puzzle member I is in a different plane than puzzle member A and therefore reveals buttons and a bowtie where puzzle member A lies deeper in the scene at it's surface and therefore does not encounter the plane of the buttons and bowtie.

Puzzle member M Lies behind puzzle member R where the snowman's midsection and bottom are attached but curves into a frontal plane revealing the snowman's eye which is in a plane in front of puzzle member A and M at position #2.

Puzzle member I curves into the plane revealing the tip of the carrot nose at position #3 and curves deeper at the bowtie which would be behind the nose tip.

Puzzle member J lies in the middle of the snowman's head.

Puzzle member K curves deeper into the scene at position #4 where the hat is missing and higher in a frontal plane at position #5 where the hat is revealed.

FIG. 2 a Is an illustration of one embodiment from a horizontal side view with parallel planes E and K noted horizontally. The plurality of puzzle members may be either curve above any given plane as noted by positions B or below as noted by positions A. In this embodiment the puzzle is comprising of a plurality of three-dimensional puzzle pieces with multi-planar curved surfaces interlocking with one another.

Puzzle member #1 at position A is below plane E and above plane E at position B. As in my example in FIG. 2 of the snowman's carrot nose tip, puzzle member #1 in FIG. 2 a could house the nose tip at position M similar to puzzle member I on FIG. 2 and puzzle member #2 in FIG. 2 a could be similar to puzzle member J in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention takes the puzzling effect of building the whole puzzle from it's parts to a new difficulty by adding the third dimension to the problem solving not only for the puzzle structure but also for the simultaneous building of the scenes structure in three dimensions with each and every puzzle piece.

In this invention all points in a space are shared between a physical three-dimensional puzzle structure and a three-dimensional scene of solid objects within said space. The surfaces of the individual puzzle pieces are curved multi-planar three-dimensional surfaces which physically curve through the three dimensional space of the scene. Due to this new shape of the individual puzzle piece surfaces being three-dimensional, the puzzle can embody the three dimensional properties of the solid objects in the scene on it's surfaces. It also adds difficulty to the puzzle building due to the complications that will be added due to the surfaces of the puzzle pieces curving through the space of the scene, and depending on the particular surface shape, adding planes or missing particular planes of subject matter housed on other adjoining puzzle pieces.

The revealed three-dimensional artwork for any particular puzzle piece surface will not be as easy to decipher as a planar surface which is a continual design in only one plane. A three-dimensional design on a curved surface will reveal the depth of articles or subjects in the scene and several planes, parallel, horizontal, intersecting or perhaps not depending on the surface shape. A single surface may have peaks and valleys, multiple curves or other three-dimensional structure. Portions of planes in a scene may be truncated on a particular puzzle piece surface due to the shape and background objects may be revealed where unexpected. The corresponding position of the solid objects in the scene that share the same coordinates as the surface of the puzzle piece may render them unrecognizable during assembly which further complicates the puzzle builders task.

A planar puzzle of a pirate fighting with a sword in a scene for example would typically show the whole pirate rendered into planar artwork on the puzzle surface in a single planar layer where the player would choose what is on the left or right of the subject in two dimensions. In my invention a layer would consist of several puzzle pieces with curved multi-planar three-dimensional surfaces. Parts of the fighting pirate would be revealed and parts would not.

In a traditional planar puzzle if he was lunging forward with a sword everything would be viewed in the picture.

In this invention depending on the coordinates in the three dimensional space where the pirate exists and is intersected by puzzle piece surfaces at their respective shared points, would determine what would be rendered onto the puzzle surface in artwork. Perhaps the sword would be missing until several more layers are added. Perhaps only part his face would be revealed but his nose, part of his hat rim, forearm and sword would be revealed in additional frontal layers since each added layer would add the subjects depth position in the completed puzzle in the different coordinates in the shared space that lie in front of the subjects eyes for example. If the puzzle piece curved back into the space by the pirates eyes for example the objects in the scene behind the pirates eyes may be revealed and may be another pirates sword about to strike his head for example.

This three dimensional quality of the puzzle pieces shape and the puzzle scene being shared at all points throughout both coexisting structures and being articulated by this inventions three dimensional physical surface structure curving through the three-dimensional space adds a previously unknown life like action and three-dimensional quality to building the scene. By revealing what is going on in front of the objects in the scene and behind the objects in the scene as the puzzle is built and revealing the objects depth quality, a static puzzle can create action as the user places the puzzle pieces in place. As the user determines where to place each puzzle piece to form the whole entire puzzle they would have to determine which layer the particular piece fits. One preferred embodiment would have a solid finished structure where all the individual puzzle pieces would fit into it's respective coordinates in said three dimensional space.

The picture clues would be more complex and the user would need to determine what they are looking at and where in the scene the puzzle piece would fit. They would have to determine what would fit on all sides of the puzzle piece in every dimension. Questions would be what is to the left, to the right, on top of this piece and behind it. The player would need to determine where in a three dimensional space this piece fits. What are they looking at and what are the three dimensional properties of the particular artwork on the individual puzzle piece. The puzzle piece would have a relationship to all pieces that touch it in the physical three-dimensional space of the scene and would reveal the appropriate coordinate in the space dissected by the puzzle piece's surface of the objects internal arrangements and it's relationship to other objects in the scene. 

1. A three dimensional puzzle assembly comprising; one or more layers; each said layer comprising a plurality of three-dimensional puzzle pieces; each said puzzle piece having one or more curved multi-planar surface; wherein said puzzle substrate shares every point in a space with a three-dimensional scene of solid objects in said space; wherein pictorial representations of said scene is rendered on said puzzle piece surfaces depicting the shared common points of said scene on said puzzle surface structure; wherein said puzzle may be assembled in a piece-by-piece fashion requiring the user to select separate puzzle pieces and place them in their respective coordinate in said three-dimensional scene to complete the puzzle 